How Beauty Loved the Beast

chapter Fourteen



Bass thumped, drinks flowed and bodies gyrated in the packed living room of Jolie’s sky-high palace. Hauk was unused to being in a crowd. At least the lights were dim, but still he felt uncomfortably exposed in the crush.

Jolie had him on the living room floor, cleared of furniture to make room for dancing. Her body pressed against his as her tipsy laugh rang out. Not everyone here was from the Underlight, but their hysterical edge had infected the energy of the party. People drank and danced like it might be their last night on Earth.

His bag was in Jolie’s room. Benoit’s jet wouldn’t be ready until the morning, so they felt safe that nothing would blow tonight and had decided to spend it here, where they could be truly alone. After he made it through this crowded hell of a birthday party, he’d have her to himself in private luxury for the rest of the night. He couldn’t wait.

Or at least that’s how he’d felt before that a*shole Paul, her ex, showed up. The pretty-boy had been hovering the whole party, getting in a dance whenever Hauk left Jolie’s side.

She tugged at his neck, and he leaned down so her lips could reach his ear. “You okay? Having fun?”

He nodded a lie then waved at Brayden for another drink. His friend had spent the entire damn party at the bar. Hauk was worried about him.

“Is he okay?” Jolie asked, noting the direction of his stare.

Hauk shrugged. Thinking back over the week and a half he’d been out of the hospital, Brayden had been uncharacteristically quiet. “Maybe I should check on him.” To make sure he wasn’t giving himself alcohol poisoning, if nothing else.

Jolie gave him a squeeze. “I’m heading for the bathroom. When I’m back, flag me down if you want more of an intervention.”

Hauk kissed her on the top of the head. Even touching her in such a simple way made him feel like he was on camera, as if the whole room must be watching and laughing as the ugliest guy there dared to touch the most beautiful girl.

But Jolie pulled his face down and planted her lips on his. “You’re mine. I’m yours. Everybody here should know that.” Eyes sympathetic, she traced his jawline with her thumb. “And thanks for lying about having fun.”

A lump built in his throat, and all he could do was nod. He didn’t like being in public. He didn’t like being stared at, and people did stare. He’d always claimed he was worried about getting caught and hauled off to jail, but deep down he knew that was just an excuse. He hated strangers looking at him.

But maybe it was okay when he was with Jolie.

He forced his chin up and shoulders back, military straight as he marched to the bar where Brayden was overindulging. He leaned on the counter where the bar had been set up, encroaching into his friend’s space.

Brayden handed him a cider. Hauk had made the switch from beer so he could kiss his celiac girlfriend without fear of hurting her.

“Your girlfriend’s drinking margaritas. Sure you don’t want anything stronger?” Brayden asked.

The stool next to Brayden emptied and Hauk sat, trying not to contemplate why someone might leave right after he arrived. “Sure you don’t want to stop before I have to carry your ass to a hospital?”

“Pff.” Brayden waved a hand dismissively, but his bleary eyes wouldn’t focus.

“What the hell is wrong with you? It’s not this weekend, so don’t give me that bullshit.”

Brayden glared at him for a moment then finally shrugged. “Got a crush.”

Mr. Different-Person-Every-Night? Hauk grinned and raised his glass. “Congratulations. Quit drinking and ask him or her out.”

“She’s not here.”

“Did you invite her?”

“No.” Brayden sighed. “Hauk, she’s a horrible bitch. I can’t ask her out. Let’s drop it.”

He snorted. “You’re a horrible a*shole as far as your dates are concerned. You two will be perfect for each other.” He lifted his bottle to his mouth.

“She’s your ex-fiancée.”

Hauk shut his lips before he spat his drink everywhere. Slowly and oh-so-carefully he set the cider down on the bar. “Excuse me?”

Bradyen blew out a stream of air and scooted farther back on the stool. “Never mind.”

Hauk leaned in, refusing to give him space. “If you touch Ashley, I will remove your balls. Ask me if I’m kidding.”

“I know! After what she did to you, I couldn’t even consider—”

“No. That’s not the problem. What Ash did...” He didn’t want to think about the way the first woman he’d ever fallen in love with had come back into his life to deceive and betray him to the Order of Ananke. Nearly got him killed—worse, turned into a drone. At least she felt guilty about it afterward, or so he’d been told. “Ash has a bad habit of trusting the wrong people. Too damn naïve. Which is exactly why you need to keep your dirty hands and mind off of her.”

Brayden shot back the rest of his drink. His voice wasn’t loud, but there was a weird undercurrent of strength to it. “Did you ever think maybe if she was a little less naïve, she’d make better choices?”

Anger jerked his shoulders rigid. His a*shole best friend really believed that. Hauk launched up and loomed over him, unleashing the full threatening power of his height and face. “Is that what you do? You’re the great teacher of life? Helping people out by f*cking them over? Ashley is off limits.” He pounded two fingers into Brayden’s chest. “If we ever see her again, don’t you dare go near her.”

“Uh...” Brayden shrunk up as tiny as he could and pointed behind him. “Paul’s following your girlfriend out of the room.”

Pissed as he was at Brayden, Hauk swung around. Sure enough, pretty-boy was heading down the hall after Jolie with a single-minded determination.

“F*ck.” He turned back to Brayden, unsure if his message had gotten through loud and clear enough yet.

On the other hand, he didn’t want to let Paul catch up to Jolie. The only reason she’d quit seeing the pretty-boy was because Paul wouldn’t make a commitment. Hauk had watched the way Paul stared at her all night with greedy eyes. Paul was ready to make that commitment if it meant he could have her back.

Brayden had turned near green with either alcohol or fear, and his hands shot up in surrender. “I don’t even know where Ashley is. I haven’t seen her since you two left the Underlight together. And I’m not going to. I’m not going to go out with a girl that duplicitous.”

Paul was exiting the room. Hauk gave Brayden a forbidding glare. “Keep it that way.”

Crossing the damn dance floor was going to take forever. Usually he terrified a crowd into parting, but he didn’t want to do that at Jolie’s birthday party. So he dove in, trying to hide his face as he wound through the mass of dancers.

As he moved, he felt every glance and point like a bullet in a firefight. He kept going, each stare urging him on to find the one woman he could trust to see him as a man and not a victim.

When he finally made it to the hallway, Paul had caught up to her. He stood a little too close, and she didn’t seem to mind. He asked her a question that Hauk couldn’t hear, and she led him into her bedroom.

Hauk felt the blood drain from his face as he watched them go. The music of the party pulsed loudly, amplifying his frustration. Maybe he should go back there, let her do whatever it was she was going to. She’d told him that she was his girlfriend, and in his head, he trusted her. But his heart...his heart couldn’t see how she would pick a metal worker as f*cked-up in looks and in the head as he was when she could have a handsome rock star with no mental baggage.

Hauk hadn’t tried hard enough this week. He’d seen the disappointment in Jolie’s face every time he pulled away from her. He knew it saddened her every time he refused to face her. He hadn’t been the man she needed because he’d been a coward, and he was a lucky son-of-a-bitch if he wasn’t about to pay for it right now.

One unsteady foot in front of the other, he headed for her door.

* * *

Jolie sat on her bed and stared up at Paul. He’d been so serious when he asked if he could talk to her that she couldn’t brush him off. They’d never had the official, “We’re not doing this anymore,” talk, just drifted their separate ways as his band schedule and her activities with the Underlight (not that he knew anything about those) kept them busy. She had a feeling the unspoken was about to be said aloud.

She despised these talks.

Paul grinned down at her in that charmer way that had made her stomach flip-flop last summer. She’d thought he was so punk with his tattoo sleeve and rakish curls. But that was a schoolgirl’s punk.

She had a real rebel now.

“So,” he started, his smile growing as his footsteps glided toward her.

Self-consciously, she realized she was on the bed, and that might get taken the wrong way. They’d been in this room many times before and all when they were here to make a little noise. Discomfort tightened her gut. She stood up. “Let me start.” Before he could get out whatever proposition was very clearly on his tongue.

He stilled, his features all coated in confusion. She didn’t buy it.

She wanted to grimace but forced her expression into something kinder as she walked over to him. “Come on, Paul. You know this is over.”

His pose deflated. “No. I don’t. I’ve missed you. I’ll give you the relationship you want. No more fan-girls. I promise. And I’ll keep that promise.”

Sincerity filled his hazel eyes as his gaze shifted to the bed and back with a longing she used to wish for. If he’d bothered to offer her this three months ago, she’d have rejoiced. But then she might not have given Hauk a chance, and that would be a tragedy.

She took Paul’s hands in hers. It wasn’t like he was a bad guy, and she hated to hurt him. Honesty would be best, though. Rip the bandage off swiftly. “There’s somebody else. We’re serious.” She took a steadying breath, trying to clear the alcohol from her brain so she could say this right. “As in, he might be the one serious.” She bit her lip. “No. As in I’m sure he’s the one. I’m taken. Permanently.”

Unless it all ended tomorrow.

Paul grimaced as he stepped out of her reach. “Not the burned guy? Tell me it’s not him.”

Her anger flared. “Why does it matter what he looks like?”

He rocked back on his heels and sneered. “He’s past hideous. He’s terrifying. And you’re so much better than that.”

She straightened up and popped a hip, her voice rising in anger with every word. “Better than what? A military veteran who got burned serving overseas? A man who makes an honest living working with his hands? A good person who treats me with respect and affection? Somebody generous and thoughtful who spends his life doing good for others? I’m too good for him because, what? I’m pretty? I’m rich? Those things have nothing to do with who I am. I didn’t earn either one. If there’s a problem, it’s that Hauk’s too good for me.”

By the time she’d finished her tirade, Paul had his hands up in surrender. “Sorry. I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“You never do when you glance at somebody and make judgments.”

He ran a hand through his hair as he made a gruff sound of frustration. “You’re not just pretty or rich. You are sexy and smart and fearless. You say what you think no matter what.” He gave her a rueful smile. “You even tell me when my songs suck.”

She shot back archly, “Sometimes your songs do suck.” She shook her head, cooling her temper. “Mostly they’re pretty damn good, but nobody’s perfect.”

“Yeah, but you deserve as close as it gets.” His voice still sounded petulant, but she could hear him winding down. He was giving up.

One more reiteration. It did Paul no favors to leave him with hopes. “Hauk has every quality that matters to me.”

He drew in a thick breath and crossed his arms. It was done. “Yeah, well, I guess you’re pretty enough for the both of you.”

She chuckled softly. “You know it.” With a forced smile he held his arms out, and she took the offered hug. “I had a lot of fun.”

He squeezed her tightly, patted her back twice and let go. “So did I.” He averted his face. “Now I think I’m going to raid your liquor cabinet one more time and head out.”

“Have at it.”

His back was a little more rigid, his gait a little more hurried, but otherwise Paul held it together as he turned his back on her and headed for the door. Jolie took a shaky breath. She’d had men take it a lot worse.

The door opened. “Hey,” Paul said. “It’s the lucky a*shole.”

Hauk stood in the doorway, mouth gaping. He’d clearly been listening, but the dazed look on his face said he didn’t care that they’d caught him. Unsure what he’d heard, Jolie faked casual, but anxiety rolled through her stomach and up her throat. She’d called him “the one.” He might have said he loved her, but he’d never said anything like that.

His eyes found hers. To her surprise, the depth of emotion in them soothed instead of disquieted her further. Still, she cocked her head, asking with a glance what the hell he was doing spying on them.

Paul observed the interchange, a hint of regret in his eyes. With a nod, he left.

Hauk watched him go.

“Eavesdropping? Really?”

His head whipped back to her, a tiny smile breaking through the shell-shock. “And you found out I was previously engaged how?” He stepped into her room and shut the door.

She frowned. “You were in a public place.”

He kept approaching, his eyes so hungry it made her blood pulse faster.

“And...I dropped down from the ceiling to a spot where you couldn’t see me,” she admitted. “How much did you hear?” She’d been too honest in her haste to get rid of Paul. Her ears burned and her mouth had parched with embarrassment.

Instead of answering, he scooped her up. “Thank you.” His voice was hushed with relief. “Thank you, thank you.”

The intensity of his naked emotion eased the discomfort with her own soul, stripped too bare. She might have said he was the one, but he’d designed a rose ring and written a poem that she’d reread until she had it memorized. If those were for her, he felt the same way. If they were a meaningless pretty...

Unable to meet his eyes, she wrapped her arms and legs around his torso and nestled her face into his neck. “Don’t thank me. It was an entirely selfish decision on my part.”

A wordless sound somewhere between a laugh and a choke came from him as he squeezed her tighter.

She nuzzled up the rough skin of his right side until she reached his ear and lightly bit the lobe between two spikes. Lust was an emotion they shared in equal measure. That made it safe. She swirled her tongue around the piercing, loving the feel of skin meeting metal. Hauk and his many textures was part of her fun. “I have plans to make you pay for it later anyway.”

“Anything.”

“I’ll remember you said that.”

A wash of panic crossed his features.

She raised an eyebrow. “No take-backs on my birthday.”

* * *

He still hadn’t completed the leg. The gods knew he wanted to give her whatever she desired. He wasn’t sure how much of what she’d said was true and how much she’d said just to convince Paul to back down, but either way her words had been shelter from the night’s barrage.

The whole party she’d claimed him publicly, from dancing to kisses, and now with Paul. She never hesitated or acted the least ashamed to have Hauk at her side. For that alone, he wanted to give her anything, tiny to gargantuan, that she asked for.

But his leg wasn’t just about pride. Until the gears were properly shielded, he was afraid of hurting her.

Her thighs unclenched from around him, and reluctantly he let her hop to the ground. “We should get back to the party,” she said. “I’m the guest of honor, after all, and I’m pretty sure Mercy’s about to surprise me with some churros-inspired gluten-free cake.”

That startled Hauk into a smile. Mercy had done just that. “What makes you think so?” He let her lead him toward the door.

“Eh, just a guess. But I’m uncannily accurate when it comes to these things. Now, I need my boyfriend to get back onto the dance floor with me. And then, after everyone’s gone, we can celebrate my birthday again.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He glanced back at the bed, wishing he could pull her into it right now and find out all the ways she wanted to celebrate in private. He still couldn’t completely let go of the nerves being physical with her gave him. But it was time he moved past it and let them enjoy each other as they should. Starting tonight.